Technology - What’s the benefit? Sometimes the complications of something blind us to the benefits of it. That truth applies to technology in the classroom, specifically the English Language Arts classroom. Organizing and guiding 30 middle school students all to the same point in an activity by itself can be tough, add technology used for academic purposes, and it can sometimes feel like I am a glutton for punishment. I can’t tell you how many times I have wanted to change my name at the end of a full day of technology-integrated activities. Mrs. Hughes, who’s Mrs. Hughes?​However, the benefits of using technology in the classroom far outweigh the hiccups that may come with it. Technology allows my students to actively participate with concepts that seem one-dimensional to most. Vocabulary, grammar, text structures, character analysis, theme development, and more. Technology gives my middle school students the opportunity to interact with classically boring topics - vocabulary - by defending the Earth from falling asteroids in Quizlet’s Gravity. It allows them to monitor theme development over the course of a novel by tweeting 140-character summaries and utilizing hashtags. It allows them to assume the role of their favorite characters and create vlog (or blog) diaries. It allows them to demonstrate their knowledge of text structures by making comic strips using BitStrips or Pixton. The benefits and opportunities go on and on.

Using technology in the ELA classroom allows students to learn like never before. In an EduSurge article written by Ben Stern, the advantage of using technology in the ELA classroom is stated quite clearly. He says, “... literature is as powerful on paper as it is in E-ink. Where technology can play a powerful role, though, is by offering new opportunities for engagement with the texts, expanding a classroom beyond its walls and time slot, and encouraging students to pursue their reading and writing independently.” Technology gives students the chance to continue their learning in a more meaningful, and exciting, way than worksheets or flashcards. It takes the purpose of homework and updates it.

Stern included an important word at the end of his quotation, he used the word “independently.” Technology allows learners to interact with ELA concepts independently, outside of the classroom. What more could we want as teachers than for our students to take what we teach them, interact with it, and use it on their own. With technology in the classroom, they can!

References:

Stern, B. (2016, July 10). Because You Asked: How Tech Can Transform English/Language Arts Class from Good to Great (EdSurge News). Retrieved March 26, 2017, from https://www.edsurge.com/news/because-you-asked-how-tech-can-transform-english-language-arts-class-from-good-to-great

As a MS LA teacher, I loved seeing your ideas for technology integration. I have loved using comic strips for various activities in our class, and the kids like it too. I really like the Twitter summaries. Such a cute idea, and a great way to teach kids how to be concise with their words.

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Itxaso Cayero

3/29/2017 08:00:47 pm

What a great quite. "Literature is as powerful on paper as it is in E-ink." Many parents may not agree but times are changing and so are the forms in which we receive texts. Students are able to be published authors in a much simpler way than ever before for example!

Even though like you said, sometimes I am burned out by the end of a lesson where technology was heavily used, the product usually makes it worth it!
Great post once more Michelle.

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Tim Stark

4/1/2017 12:31:25 pm

Great ideas in this Michelle,

I also have utilized quizlet in the economics courses that I teach. Funny how the prospect of making something a game immediately engages a group. If you haven't tried it yet, the quizlet live feature is really good for test reviews as well. Definitely worth a look.

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Author

Michelle Hughes is an EdTech student at Boise State University. She works as a 7th grade English teacher in a small, private school in Gadsden, Alabama.